Gorton Mount Primary School in Manchester (head teacher Carol Powell) is to become the first UK government school to use the Montessori teaching method, which allows pupils to learn at their own pace, studying things they find interesting and enjoy.

The initial programme which will run until April 2006 will cost £800K (inc. £40K from the DfES) and is a public private partnership between Manchester City Council and the Montessori St Nicholas charity. It is interesting to note that this initiative follows closely behind the first ever government-funded study of Steiner schools in the UK (by the University of West England). If successful it could potentially spread to many of the 700 Montessori schools and 23 Steiner schools across the UK.

• www.montessori.org.uk